I was asked recently (not by one of my trainees as they are told the answer on the course) how does non-directional coaching and directional coaching work when I have a niche market based on my expertise in running a successful small retail business?

My belief is that to be an outstanding coach you need the skills in both non-directional coaching and directional coaching. The challenge is that it is almost as easy as falling off a log to tell other people what to do. Stop now. (There you are I have just done it!) Really, stop for a minute and ask yourself

‘who recently have I told how to do something, or what they should do?’

Was it your ageing mother, your teenage children, your best friend who found herself in a dilemma? The list is endless. So you see, it is easy to tell people what to do and we are experts in doing it, and we do it all the time. Notice I did not say we are experts in what we tell them to do; only we are experts in telling people what to do.

When I saw these steps to nowhere it started me on a journey of thoughts about life coaching. I thought about the many coaches (not trained by me) who are working with their clients, in all good faith, setting goals with action plans. Only they have not been taught about the importance of discovering each client’s core values before embarking on change work.

Like these beautiful rock steps, all full of promise and leading nowhere, the non-enlightened coach, who does not know his/her client’s core values, will be taking steps to nowhere. As will the coach who has taken the time to Read More

It seemed like a great fun day out. Going to Sibleyback Lake and hiring a Segway adventure, little did I know at the time I would learn how to ride the machine and re-discover the power fear has to evoke negative beliefs.

A little bit of background I love cycling and a few years ago I had a very serious biking accident; I was airlifted to hospital and fed liquid morphine. I would show you the pictures, only they are so graphic, I still baulk when looking at them. I am now back in the saddle (not horse saddle as in the blog post, Insolvency & the Self-Employed) of my bike and riding 20+ miles along the cycle trails. Must have good balance to ride a bike, someone once said.

There are according to the Citizens Advice Bureau 4.55 million self-employed workers in the UK. I think this is great. I love it when someone takes the plunge and grasps the reins of their own destiny. The trick is being able to ride the self-employed horse into the beautiful sunset of a successful career and not falling off at the hurdle.

In my experience, most people when learning to ride a horse do not just jump on bare back and ride safely. Normally, new riders take lessons in not only how to ride but as importantly how to tack up (put the saddle on – the thingy you sit on) and how to maintain the tack so that it is safe to ride on. Also, as we are on the horsey theme, usually the horse has been broken-in (trained – not as in; thief – breaking into a horsebox) by a qualified and experienced trainer.

Over 19,000 self-employed people contacted the CAB in Q4 2013 regarding personal debt. Over 19,000 in one quarter of a year! This is mind blowing. Within that number there will be some coaches. I would expect the coaches who are in debt are Read More

July 4, 2014

One of my dearest friends and confidant has been working back to back. The curse and the joy of being self employed.

Let’s say for the minute you are self-employed. You enjoy the freedom of going from one company and contract to another. This offers variety and an infinitive number of new challenges and networks. Oh the joy this brings. It reminds me of a child in a sweet shop, so many choices and options. If you sort by difference or prefer options over procedure, this life is the perfect alternative to being an employee on a salary with one boss and the same ‘ole’ faces each day.

An interesting thing happened today. I joined a group of RDA volunteers for an end of term outing. We were going to go for a walk on the moors and then return to a beautiful Inn for lunch.

The sun was shining as we set off for our walk. After a short while walking on flat ground we came across a sharp decline which took us down to a moorland stream. There was the obligatory gnarled tree casting dappled shade over the running cool water. It was idyllic.

We then left the valley and started a medium ascent towards one of the moors famous tours. There was a little breeze and the sun was beating down. The group started to spread out as the leaders walked ahead and the stragglers slowed down creating a gap between us. I was in the lead group and after we had crested a mound on the tour we Read More